tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88353610491375365692011-08-18T06:12:59.670-07:00Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-30802531652652382682011-06-08T20:22:00.000-07:002011-06-08T21:27:43.647-07:00

As I sit hear watching a special on shamefully addictive reality TV shows, it seems paradoxical to reflect on my amazing adventure exploring the simplicities of human nature and development in Central America. But I will do my best to focus on the minimalism of the under-developed world. There are three common themes that are reappearing on each of my bridge trips: 1) Really Good People, 2)

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-66809586384895235322010-09-14T08:03:00.001-07:002010-09-14T08:18:05.800-07:00

The two months spent in Zambia crept by some days, but in the end it went incredibly fast. It is sometimes hard to appreciate the experience enough while living it, so I want to reflect on some of my favorite parts of my trip in hindsight. As someone who is a firm believer in giving back to other people- though often I feel like I don't have much to give- this opportunity was a gift to be able

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-18390036007405663422010-09-08T00:43:00.000-07:002010-09-08T01:53:38.693-07:00

So, I spent 10 days in the Eastern Province at the Kamnjoma bridge site working on building the bridge towers. This was full immersion living in the bush with no running water- only a hand pump- no electricity- except for the solar panel I was given- and no cell network. It was an amazing learning experience to see how they really live. I even got to go to their church, and see the singing and

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-74289871362745651302010-08-18T08:18:00.000-07:002010-08-18T08:54:42.813-07:00

This is Africa... a common saying around here. These pictures speak for themselves.

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-23322007643108178852010-08-18T07:05:00.000-07:002010-08-18T08:17:29.639-07:00

So, last week was spent in the Western Province in the Shamiyoyo village. Valentin (left in the picture) is a Civil Engineer who just graduated from university in Germany and came out here to spend a month volunteering building bridges. We had a lot of good laughs, and it was nice to have another Musungu (white person) to laugh with. For example, we had quite a time when we met the chief.

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-42777138877247363102010-08-15T05:29:00.001-07:002010-08-15T06:19:36.914-07:00

The Kamnjoma site in the Eastern Province is about 2 hours on a dirt road from the nearest town- Petauke- which is a 4 hour drive from home in Lusaka. I took an American couple who is here to volunteer for 3 weeks to show them the site and what they will be building. It was a great surprise to see the community working hard at 6pm when we pulled in- even if it took the councilman driving out

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-37859311049770601642010-07-30T05:36:00.000-07:002010-07-30T06:16:34.173-07:00

So, I spent 5 days in camping in the African bush in a small village called Fipashi in the Copperbelt. It was good experience overseeing some of the construction and working with the locals. There were some challenges as most of the people had a "5th grade" or I would say more of a kindergarten level of English. But, they were very polite- always saying "Good Morning Madam." Here is a picture

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-81238919630402648182010-07-23T07:52:00.000-07:002010-07-23T08:29:36.619-07:00

So, the project I was supposed to be working on right now got delayed- pretty standard procedure in this business. So in this spare time, here are some random things I have been creating/discovering/ stumbling upon. "I'm jealous of the moon for how it moves the waves." "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-79168133536392071832010-07-18T05:57:00.001-07:002010-07-18T06:20:00.256-07:00

So, this week I have gotten to walk across two of the completed bridges here in Zambia. It is so cool after reviewing the design calculations and purchasing materials for some of the other bridges to finally see the end product. This first bridge is in Livingstone- right near Victoria Falls where my mom and I went in June. Some of the people didn't know if it was open while others were very weary

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-38117490201819733402010-07-17T18:20:00.000-07:002010-07-18T06:50:38.889-07:00

I am learning a lot here from how to build pedestrian bridges to how to shake hands the African way to how politics work in Africa. The kids here are so beautiful and happy- you always get a huge smile and shouting waves back. I also got to chat with Chilesi, our local subcontractor at the Malobi bridge site, on our 6 hour drive from this site back to Lusaka. We talked about some of the

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-54075205361796865112010-07-17T05:34:00.000-07:002010-07-18T05:54:38.385-07:00

So far, my most "thrilling" adventure in Zambia has been to the office of the Immigration Police. These people got my heart pumping. On our way to one of the bridge stites in the small town of Fupashi, we passed 10- yes 10- police check points. Several of them were just slow down and wave. The 9th one, however, was a little more. I have learned that these are really more to supplement the minimal

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-44153791137677648472010-07-12T12:24:00.000-07:002010-07-12T14:07:58.277-07:00

Zambia has certainly been an eye opening experience so far. The place we are based at in Lusaka is certainly more developed than I was expecting- there is a grocery store, many restaurants- including Subway, and a movie theatre (where I saw Twilight)! There are a lot of business people there, and definitely a lot more white people than I was expecting- you can't even play spot the peace corps

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460531205021727830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-40613411301920408812010-07-05T19:01:00.000-07:002010-07-05T19:26:44.451-07:00

Thus far my year of "exploring" has been invaluable. From coaching college soccer with my best friend in Hawaii to learning masonry in Guatemala to studying Spanish in Peru to seeing some of the best soccer players and coolest wild animals in South Africa, my life has been enriched. I have learned a lot about myself and about other cultures, and I have met some amazing people along the way. As

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-25714698899123993712010-06-16T21:38:00.000-07:002010-06-16T23:21:43.926-07:00

This was definitely the trip of a Lifetime. Words can't really express how cool it was, so I will try with some pictures and captions. There were so many beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and we were awake pretty much everyday for all of them. Cape Town was absolutely a beautiful place with a bustling city life, great mountain and beach scenery, and amazing people. We had a great

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-85863081457183947072010-05-20T18:03:00.000-07:002010-05-20T18:30:30.492-07:00

I am home for 3 weeks between Peru and my next adventure.... South Africa for the World Cup with my madre! I am soooo excited to see Africa and all the unique animals and people and landscapes- especially during the biggest soccer event in the world. Most of all I am excited to spend 2 weeks traveling with my mom. It is crazy how fast this year has gone, and even being at home is going really

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-50037622077211653082010-05-11T23:06:00.000-07:002010-05-20T18:02:39.996-07:00

-How many times we said "Foul Smells, Foul Smells!"- Waiting an hour and a half for a free breakfast that never came - Getting my purse stolen in Puno and then the follow up with the Tourist Police - Having to fight to get our train tickets back from Machu Picchu - Dealing with the post office in Cusco like 5 times and never getting my phone - Trip back from Mancora via late bus, missed flight,

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-65096953754005781092010-04-28T07:39:00.001-07:002010-05-11T23:06:22.327-07:00

So, we did a 4 day adventure trek to Machu Picchu last weekend. This adventure trek included a day of downhill biking, 2 days of trekking, and 1 day at Machu Picchu including a train trip back. Day 1: My trusty Walmart watch alarm failed to go off at 5:15 for our supposed 6am pickup. The tour agency did not have our address, but we promised our friends that we would be on the corner of the

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-91139654681170271342010-04-11T11:46:00.000-07:002010-04-11T12:11:53.207-07:00

The first recovery since that fateful day... my mommy sent me a camera! Well I guess I got a new passport too, which is a major plus! But the camera is a little more sentimental. Here are a few pics of one of our day hikes in the Sacred Valley with our friend Kate from Ireland. It was a day full of language barriers... starting with the girl from London who told us this would be a 2 hour hike

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-5264794725767126142010-04-04T12:54:00.001-07:002010-04-04T13:13:20.879-07:00

We just got back from our week in the Amazon. It was a great experience, seeing lots of different plants and animals, the challenge of self preservation by not itching bug bites, and meeting incredible people. Some of the animals we saw: - a Tyra (a large Peruvian Ferret looking thing) named Tyra Banks - a Parrot named Polly who says Hola - Monkeys swinging from branch to branch dropping nut

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-45105147560754361392010-03-21T17:23:00.001-07:002010-03-21T17:40:50.149-07:00

We got to Cuzco, and here we are with the kids at Wawawasi. In the local language that means house of babies.... They are super cute, but it was also a great challenge! There was like 12 kids to each teacher before we showed up. And they are inside these small classrooms for the entire time. We got to stomp grapes during our Pisco tour! We went rafting in Lunuhuana... probably one of my

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-61003285843322554952010-03-18T11:24:00.000-07:002010-03-18T11:43:02.771-07:00

When it rains it pours... especially in Peru. While I am going to get all my bitterness out at first, don´t stop reading there because I promise, it gets better! So, I got my purse stolen. Despite the warnings in every chapter of the book and every person we talked to, it happened to me. It was at the bus station in Puno, Peru after an overnight bus ride from Arequipa. Around 5am at some

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-7762795881991271492010-03-02T23:00:00.000-08:002010-03-03T00:18:21.806-08:00

The Sites: Though my favorite part of the trip was working with the locals in the rural villages, I also got to experience Guatemala as a tourist. I spent the last few days visiting Lake Atitlan and Antigua and Volcan Pacaya. There is some beautiful countryside, festive religious processions (the sawdust carpet was laid out for them to walk over), action packed road trips in chicken buses,

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-36018732332290866852010-02-23T17:24:00.001-08:002010-02-23T17:32:00.991-08:00

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-77836858464436931842010-02-22T16:23:00.000-08:002010-02-22T16:52:43.465-08:00

So, I am on my final week in Guatemala, and there is so much to share. Unfortunately I can't get the pictures up yet, but those are way better than any words I can say. Here are some stories worth mentioning so far. First off, I lie here just getting over a serious stomach flu/ food poisoning episode that kept me in bed for a good 48 hrs. The good news is that I am cured- for the most part.

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-72044627000829556292010-02-14T15:52:00.000-08:002010-02-16T14:20:26.385-08:00

Well, for starters, I am in Honduras- not Guatemala. But as I learned from my travels to South America, when I said I was going to Chile and never made it past Argentina, when you don't plan the trip, you just go where the people take you with a smile. So here I am on the computer in Copan Ruinas- Honduras. Some of the highlights I have learned so far: - 4 chicken buses from Guatemala City to

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-4091891270872933312010-01-29T23:37:00.000-08:002010-01-30T00:14:32.982-08:00

So being back from Hawaii has been pretty bitter sweet. I have definitely missed the people and beach, but it has been fun to get to play in the snow and catch up with old friends. I got to spend Christmas at Grandma's house with the fam. We even did some extreme sledding down Grandma's street, and of course Grandma participated in the sledding activities. We could barely get her off the sled:)

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-76700084371236345092009-12-12T21:31:00.000-08:002009-12-14T03:25:39.354-08:00

So, despite the freaky memories from the movie "A Perfect Getaway" (check it out if you haven't seen it) Carolyn and I braved the Napali Coast hike by ourselves! It's an 11 mile hike in to a secluded beach with some waterfalls and valleys and cliffs along they way. We left on Thursday afternoon from Oahu after about 5 minutes of conversation about what we were planning on taking and what we were

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-87229607729595256692009-12-11T21:01:00.000-08:002009-12-14T03:23:33.387-08:00

So, it wasn't a Colorado white Thanksgiving holiday watching the broncos and sipping hot chocolate, but hanging out on the Big Island and going to the beach was a pretty good substitute. We got to see a lot of sweet sunsets, and that couch was made with love. We went kayaking to the Captain Cook monument to go snorkeling. We saw some pretty polka dotted fish, and some rainbow colored

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-81801252349638071732009-11-20T02:31:00.001-08:002009-11-20T02:46:50.258-08:00

So, to all of you who have been reading all my blogs about how great my life is and how beautiful and fun it is to live in paradise, you will be glad to hear that this blog has a new aim. After my 4 months of living in beautiful Hawaii, I have been looking into some options of what is next. I definitely don't have all the answers of what is to come, but I do know one thing that I will be doing

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-34682442049361925242009-11-09T20:10:00.000-08:002009-11-09T20:46:39.638-08:00

View from the house- pretty much paradise... Another Hawaiian sunset- but this one was pretty amazing. Green sand beach... Pretending to be a photographer with a real camera. Jumping in the hole and then swimming out the cave- so scary because there were huge surges. Tanner getting ready to jump off South Point- the most southern point in the US and super clear blue

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-29992051441257432242009-10-28T14:18:00.001-07:002009-10-28T15:50:22.210-07:00

These are my jobs: Hiking ... Carolyn, Tanner, and I had quite an adventuresome hike with random farmers, getting lost, torrential downpours, fern frolicking, tree swinging, and kung fun fighting:) Surfing... yes, it's tough but someone has to do it. We haven't been going as much as we did before, but we still manage to make it out there. These pictures are at Turtle Bay with our friends who

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-90548794407305219672009-10-27T16:05:00.000-07:002009-10-28T16:06:31.816-07:00

This is my best friend!!!! And I love her a whole lot! Check out her blog for some funny pics of us through the years!

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-72037333152682848662009-09-16T17:11:00.000-07:002009-09-16T17:49:36.547-07:00

Watch out Tyra- these photo shoots might just take over America... The MATSUMOTO photo shoot... The CHINA MAN'S HAT photot shoot: The ABANDONED BUILDING photo shoot- our friend Kimball was so excited to be a part of this photo shoot. The BUFFALO WILD WINGS photo shoot- who knew waiting for a table could be so fun. Chris is the one that is perfecting the pencil jump in these

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-71098452554136137082009-09-14T16:39:00.000-07:002009-09-16T17:50:56.244-07:00

A little boating fix... First- the Burly Girl- our friend- el Capitan McDole- took us out on his sail boat to go to the sand bar. One of Carolyn's friends from college was in town visiting for the week, so she got a good taste of Hawaii on his sail boat. The sandbar is in the middle of the ocean where the water is like 2 feet deep, so we played some volleyball and hung out for the day.

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-49546587775506993012009-08-30T22:47:00.000-07:002009-08-31T00:39:42.802-07:00

So, there are a few themes this week:A) I can't believe I live hereB) Who Put Us Here?C) Wheels A) I think that this is a daily reflection: I can't believe I live here. I think it finally set in when I felt like a rock star meeting up with Allison's family, particularly when they said I looked like I could be in Blue Crush. It was crazy to feel like a local in a place where people vacation. I

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-38166732492723869172009-08-20T19:36:00.000-07:002009-08-21T02:38:35.761-07:00

Top 5 Moments in Hawaii (just this week): 1. Surfing 2. Acai Bowls 3. Bike Ride to Giovanni's for some shrimp 4. Didgereedooing and jamming out 5. Working/ "Recruiting"/ getting delirious in the coaches office/ having so much fun with Carolyn that in a state of delirium I asked her to marry me- jokingly of course Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-86144199493553935002009-08-16T00:58:00.000-07:002009-08-16T03:11:24.180-07:00

So we made it through 2-a-days!!!! Yeah, who would have thought that coaching and standing on the sideline could be so tough? However, if walking to 6am practices everyday is as bad as it gets, I think I have got it pretty good. It was so fun to see these girls pushing themselves and coming together as a team and seeing freshman standing out, but it did make us miss the good ol' days of us

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8835361049137536569.post-53848730705335069872009-08-09T13:15:00.000-07:002009-08-09T19:31:33.457-07:00

So, I made it to Hawaii. There was a lot of anxiety leading up to this move away from my engineering job in Colorado to come coach soccer with my best friend in Hawaii. But now that I am here, I have absolutely no regrets. I have been here for 3 days and here is a little recap of life so far: soccer meetings and preparation, swimming with dolphins, bonfire and camping on the beach,

Candicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18256612331069996597noreply@blogger.com1